10 Incredible Home Recording Studio Essentials For Beginners

Planning to build a great home recording studio? The way you begin a great home recording setup is probably the best start. Home recording used to be something challenging. Failure on one thing, the whole recording suffers.

Choosing the right studio essentials is a must. Well-chosen pieces of recording gear will help you operate a fully functional recording studio. It can also inspire producers to get plenty of hands-on experience right in the comfort of their own home. There are a lot of powerful consumer devices which are now capable of powering a lost-cost setup that any musician can afford – you just have to choose very well.

If you’re a complete newbie, finding them may be hard. This post will cover 10 home recording studio essentials for beginners that will blow your mind! Check them out and find the best equipment for a great starting out.

1. Computer

Your home studio should have a computer. A computer is going to be the central hub of your recording. Beginners may fret about the kind of computer they should purchase so start with the computer you have got or pick the one that will work on multiple platforms. If you already have your basic studio and you’re ready for an upgrade, then we can look some detailed options on the web.

Beginners are most likely not sure which direction the recording is going to take. If this is your case, pick an audio interface that will work on different computer types such as Mac, iPad, and PC.

2. Audio Interface

An audio interface is also an important hardware to purchase when getting ready for the first home recordings. An audio interface is the vital equipment that will get your recordings into your computer. It is also the thing that will let you hear what you’re doing as it connects to speakers, headphones and other music equipment. If you haven’t come across the audio interface before, research about it.

However, if you have already understood the basics of that thing, then choose the perfect recording interface base on your budget and specific needs. (Check here)

3. Microphone

Without a microphone, you can’t record anything. So, have a good one that will make a big impact on the recording. How a recorded voice or microphone will sound greatly depends on how good a microphone you purchased would be. To get started, get a quality one that you can use to record different sound sources. Probably, you will want to pick a versatile model that sounds good in recording no matter what frequencies are on.

A microphone can be the dynamic or the condenser type. A dynamic mic is more rugged and is ideal for live performances while the condenser mic is designed to have a better frequency response range and sensitivity. Condenser microphones are good for tough studio recordings. Beginners should read the specs carefully to make sure the gear will provide everything you need in a mic without breaking the bank.

4. MIDI Controller Or Synthesizer

A MIDI controller and synthesizer are a bit different from each other but they do have the same functions. A synthesizer is typically an electronic keyboard used to play many different kinds of sounds. This device comes in many different shapes as well as sizes like guitar and wind instrument synths and drum machines. On the other hand, the MIDI controller is like a synthesizer but it does not create sounds by itself. This device is literally a controller. It produces MIDI data which can be used to play other synthesizers whether that is hardware or software based.

A MIDI controller is essential for recording as it allows users to play an electronic keyboard plug-in like ProTools or play the whole network of interconnected synthesizers. If it is hard for you to picture out what a MIDI controller really is, think your computer game, it is like a joystick of it.

5. Studio Monitors

Studio monitors are probably the most important thing in the studio. Without it, you can’t record or produce audio. In fact, the best way to get accurate playback is through the speakers and they are specifically designed for the job. Compared to ordinary speakers, studio monitors come in different designs to be used for different listening environments. Studio monitors might be positioned in some distance if it used in large studios and a bit closer to those smaller ones.

Studio monitors broadcast the audio exactly as it is recorded. Your studio monitor choice can be mid-field, far-field or near-field design. A small set of near-field studio monitors is great for beginners. It is designed for desktop use as they only take a little space while ensuring an accurate representation of the recording. Make sure to purchase one that would be the most appropriate to the recording you want to make.

6. Headphones

If you want to listen back to your recordings and you want the sound to be as accurate as possible, headphones could help. This will also help you know what you want to change in your mix with ease. Beginners can find a good pair of headphones without spending too much cash. You can have it in closed-back design, the one that works great when you’re recording vocal or instrumental music. This one is a sealed design to prevent pre-recorded sound from leaking.

Headphones for a studio can be purchased at a different price with different pros and cons. When you are just starting out, choose a quality one in which you can afford. There are lots of them everywhere. Choose the one that also offers friendly price without compromising the quality of the device. There is no way making your first recording on your computer if you can’t heat it properly.

7. Recording Software Or DAW

Get a DAW based on what you want to achieve in the recording. If you liked doing a very straightforward recording and editing, start with the easiest software like Audacity Recording Software. You can use it free and is very much easy to use for beginners. If you would like recording with the help of advanced software, you may try the Reaper. It is affordable, has a full audio and MIDI capability and is a fully fledged DAW type.

However, if your audio interface, USB Mic or MIDI controller already have a DAW software in a box then you don’t need to buy any software at all. So, before purchasing recording software, have your hardware first.

8. Pop Filter

Pop filters may not be the most essential to a bedroom studio but newbies seem great to have one. If you don’t have any idea what they are for, then you should try everything to understand what that really is. Our mouth expels a strong burst of air when we speak which you don’t even notice in normal conversation. So when singing on the mic, a blast of air is heard and that is unpleasant to the ears. This could denote a very bad effect on the recording making it unacceptable for any home studio.

Pop filters are designed to solve the problem. Beginners should consider purchasing one especially if you want to hear the sound that is really good to the ears.

9. Cables

Since you will be making various equipment connections in the studio, don’t forget to purchase cables. You will need them so much in the setup. A mic cable is probably the primary cable you’re going to get before the recording properly begins. As this cable connects your microphone to your audio interface and also make your audio interface and studio monitors connected as well. Your studio will have tons of different cables in the long run.

In making a great start, XLR cables might be enough. You should have one for the mic and two short ones for the studio monitors. Make sure your audio interface has XLR connectors.

10. Microphone Stands

Also, don’t forget to purchase mic stands. A mic stand is important if you’re using a mic. It is neither not good nor productive to record through a handheld mic on your computer while trying to operate the software at the same time. For beginners, USB mics are ideal for they often come with a stand. While many beginners believe that all mic stands are the same but the truth is, they are not.

Some stands are floppy while you can have stands that are more versatile and tough for any situation. Make sure your mic should stand strongly for long so you can have the most worthwhile investment.

Conclusion

One great thing about building a home studio is that you can start with just a few essentials. As you develop your skills and improve your studio, you can make an upgrade and add additional options into it. The pieces of equipment mentioned above may help you to make a good start and begin the recording, incredibly!